Natural Doctrine - PlayStation 4http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/default.aspxen-USTelligent Community 1.5.134.12297 (Build: 5.5.134.12297)Unnatural Game Design Offers Uneven Entertainmenthttp://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/10/23/natural-doctrine-review-game-informer.aspxThu, 23 Oct 2014 20:30:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:7030914Ben Reeves0<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/nis-america/Natural-Doctrine/naturaldoctrineannounce610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>Learning a new skill is rarely easy; the complexities of a manual transmission nearly overwhelmed me the first time I learned to drive a car. Natural Doctrine calls to mind many of those frustrated nights on the road, because while the title looks like your average fantasy-themed strategy game, its approach to combat is so unique and complex that it will take you a while to get a handle on its intricacies. Once you get the basics down, Natural Doctrine will take you to some exciting places, but it&rsquo;s still a bit of a bumpy ride.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Natural Doctrine puts you in control of a group of adventurers who set off to cleanse the land of goblins and steal their treasure. Battles are turn based, and you can see each unit&rsquo;s basic attack order at the top of the screen. This sounds simple, but a lot of sub-systems complicate each encounter. Your party members create link attacks when they attack inside the same battle square, and this combat multiplier increases when they stand further apart. Some attacks break these links, while others make them stronger. In addition, party members who sit out an attack can call in more heroes for another link attack as long as you kill the next enemy in the attack order. It takes a while to get a sense for all of Natural Doctrine&rsquo;s nuances &ndash; such as making proper use of walls for cover and using characters with heavy armor to protect your squishier units &ndash; but once you do, you&rsquo;ll find it highly rewarding to pull off a highly orchestrated chain of attacks that steamrolls your opponents. </p>
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<p>Unfortunately, the A.I. always understands the combat system better than you do, and will squeeze every last hit point out of each attack turn. At times, it feels like racing to complete your taxes against an attorney from a Fortune 500 company. To make matters worse, if even one of your party members kisses the dirt, it&rsquo;s game over, so you have to play defensively or face the game over screen and get set back a few battles.</p>
<p>Sadly, even if you learn to enjoy the battle system you&rsquo;ll still need to overlook its story, bubblegum characters, and cardboard set dressings. Natural Doctrine also doesn&rsquo;t explain itself; I continually threw myself against one large opponent in an early dungeon, dying repeatedly until I realized that it was an optional battle and I could just leave the dungeon, level up, and then come back and clean his clock when I was stronger. It doesn&rsquo;t take long to level up your heroes, because each hero also has a relatively small skill tree. Thankfully, you&#39;re free to reconfigure their skills at any time based your needs during each encounter.</p>
<p>After a few hours I got the hang of Natural Doctrine&rsquo;s systems and felt confident enough to take on each new challenge, but you&rsquo;ll have to dig through a few layers of rock before you hit Natural Doctrine&rsquo;s gold. This strategy game will test your battle prowess as well are your tolerance for saccharin Japanese storytelling. Natural Doctrine isn&rsquo;t noteworthy outside of it&rsquo;s combat, if you feel like strategy games have grown stale, Kadokawa Games&rsquo; curious take on the genre is an interesting change of pace.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=7030914" width="1" height="1">Strategynatural doctrinePlayStation 4Reviewrpg260Natural Doctrine Shows Off Its Unforgiving Difficulty In New Trailerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/08/20/natural-doctrine-shows-off-its-unforgiving-difficulty-in-new-trailer.aspxThu, 21 Aug 2014 01:07:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:6953464Kyle Hilliard16http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=6953464http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/08/20/natural-doctrine-shows-off-its-unforgiving-difficulty-in-new-trailer.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/nis-america/Natural-Doctrine/englishtrailer/nattydoccy_610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>Along with showing off Natural Doctrine&#39;s gameplay in more detail, the latest trailer promises the game won&#39;t be easy.</p>
<p>The trailer shows a whole montage of player deaths and a literal collage of players coming up short in the staying alive department. It also shows off how complicated the game will be with its myriad statistics and interconnected lines, which is an awesome thing, or an intimidating thing depending on what type of gamer you are.</p>
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<p>For more on Natural Doctrine, a strategy title heading to PlayStation 4, 3, and Vita on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/08/02/fairy-fencer-f-and-natural-doctrine-get-new-release-dates.aspx">September 23</a>, head here.</p>
<p>For more on Natural Doctrine, specifically its multiplayer, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/08/06/new-trailer-details-natural-doctrine-39-s-multiplayer.aspx">head here</a>.</p>
<p><i>[Source: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1qlMHePWKk">NIS America on YouTube</a> via, <a target="_blank" href="http://gematsu.com/2014/08/natural-doctrine-want-survive-trailer-screenshots">Gematsu</a>]</i></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6953464" width="1" height="1">Strategyps4natural doctrinePreviewPlayStation 4vitanis americaNew Trailer Details Natural Doctrine's Multiplayerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/08/06/new-trailer-details-natural-doctrine-39-s-multiplayer.aspxThu, 07 Aug 2014 00:38:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:6931912Kyle Hilliard7http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=6931912http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/08/06/new-trailer-details-natural-doctrine-39-s-multiplayer.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/nis-america/Natural-Doctrine/englishtrailer/naturamuti_610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>A new trailer for Natural Doctrine, the upcoming PlayStation 4 strategy title, shows how you can take control of the monsters.</p>
<p>In the game&#39;s multiplayer mode, you will be collecting and using monsters to do battle hero opponents. The trailer doesn&#39;t offer a lot of details, but it does give a good look at what the game&#39;s multiplayer combat will look like.</p>
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<p>For more on Natural Doctrine, which is coming to PlayStation 4, 3, and Vita on September 23, follow the links. You can <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/04/02/nis-america-bringing-kadokawa-game-s-inaugural-title-to-north-america-europe.aspx">head here for the game&#39;s announcement</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/05/17/nis-america-39-s-new-gen-strategy-rpg-gets-a-trailer.aspx">here for a recent trailer</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/07/13/english-language-natural-doctrine-trailer-offers-a-taste-of-combat.aspx">here for a look at the game&#39;s single-player combat</a>.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6931912" width="1" height="1">Strategyps4natural doctrineps3PreviewPlayStation 4vitaplaystation 3multiplayerEnglish-Language Trailer Offers A Taste Of Combathttp://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/07/13/english-language-natural-doctrine-trailer-offers-a-taste-of-combat.aspxSun, 13 Jul 2014 22:38:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:6899726Kyle Hilliard9http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=6899726http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/07/13/english-language-natural-doctrine-trailer-offers-a-taste-of-combat.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/nis-america/Natural-Doctrine/englishtrailer/natdoct_610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>The latest trailer for the upcoming PlayStation 4, Vita, and PlayStation 3 RPG Natural Doctrine is in English, and shows of the some of the game&#39;s combat.</p>
<p>The game is a strategy-RPG where players search for the desirable mineral Pluton and uncover dark evil along the way. The game will offer cross-save functionality across its three platforms.</p>
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<p>For more on the game <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/05/17/nis-america-39-s-new-gen-strategy-rpg-gets-a-trailer.aspx">head here</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/04/02/nis-america-bringing-kadokawa-game-s-inaugural-title-to-north-america-europe.aspx">here</a>. Natural Doctrine releases September 16.</p>
<p><i>[Source: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAL-wuhVZW0">NIS America on YouTube</a>, via <a target="_blank" href="http://gematsu.com/2014/07/natural-doctrine-second-english-trailer">Gematsu</a>]</i></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6899726" width="1" height="1">Strategyps4natural doctrineps3PreviewPlayStation 4vitaenglishplaystation 3NIS America's New-Gen Strategy-RPG Gets A Trailerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/05/17/nis-america-39-s-new-gen-strategy-rpg-gets-a-trailer.aspxSat, 17 May 2014 17:35:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:6798455Kyle Hilliard21http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=6798455http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/05/17/nis-america-39-s-new-gen-strategy-rpg-gets-a-trailer.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/nis-america/Natural-Doctrine/naturaldoctrine_610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>NIS America&#39;s upcoming strategy-RPG Natural Doctrine, which is getting localized for PlayStation 3, 4, and Vita in North America, has a new trailer.</p>
<p>The game will have cross-play and cross-save functionality across platforms and is described by NIS America as a &quot;challenging strategy RPG&quot; for &quot;seasoned explorers and novices alike.&quot;</p>
<p>There is no release date for the game yet, but it should be arriving this year.</p>
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<p>For more on Natural Doctrine, including more screenshots, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/04/02/nis-america-bringing-kadokawa-game-s-inaugural-title-to-north-america-europe.aspx">head here</a>.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6798455" width="1" height="1">strategy rpgStrategyps4natural doctrineps3PreviewPlayStation 4vitanis americadark soulsNIS America Bringing The Strategy-RPG To North America, Europehttp://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/04/02/nis-america-bringing-kadokawa-game-s-inaugural-title-to-north-america-europe.aspxWed, 02 Apr 2014 18:10:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:6718188Isaac Federspiel20http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=6718188http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/04/02/nis-america-bringing-kadokawa-game-s-inaugural-title-to-north-america-europe.aspx#comments<p><img style="max-width:610px;" border="0" src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/nis-america/Natural-Doctrine/naturaldoctrineannounce610.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>NIS America announced that it is bringing Kadokawa Game&rsquo;s Natural Doctrine to North American and European markets. Natural Doctrine is releasing on PlayStation 4, PS3 and PS Vita. </p>
<p>In Natural Doctrine, you play as an explorer wandering below the surface to collect the desirable mineral Pluton. On your trip, you and some friends discover a new evil and must strategically engage it in battle, escape, and warn the Kingdom of this new threat.</p>
<p>Gamers have the ability to use multiple Sony systems for its cross-save and cross-play features with Kadokawa Game&rsquo;s strategy-RPG. Natural Doctrine is set to release fall 2014 in North America and Europe on the three Sony platforms. It releases in Japan on April 3.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6718188" width="1" height="1">sonycross savenorth americastrategy rpgkadokawa gamesStrategyfall 2014vita playstationps4cross playnatural doctrineps3PreviewscreensscreenshotsPlayStation 4nis-americaeurope